Latest Bosch motor - and it’s not what you’d expect…

[Yako]

Today Bosch unveiled a completely new motor.
Are you sitting down?
It’s a 45Nm HUB motor. Canyon have put it in their latest singlespeed commuter Roadlite ON - also released today. I was supposed to be getting my hands on one for a little spin next week after Eurobike, but have surgery scheduled so had to turn it down.

Bosch say the motor is specifically designed for commuter/city riding, but it seems to have 400W which is decent.
So, thoughts as to why? I had thought that hub motors were dead in the water - but Bosch obviously don’t think so. They’re often more reliable than mids, so what’s the life expectancy of a Bosch hub motor that will never see rough ground/pedal strikes - even mud? Forever?

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Not for me with my wall like hills, but I suppose simplicity is a big factor? For bike brands not having to re engineer frames to fit a mid drive, though actually as they need to incorporate a computer and internal battery maybe not a big factor.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Also Yako, that Geoid computer you reviewed looks very good. I don't use a bike computer, but I like the mapping functions on this. And that price!

 

[Yako]

Also Yako, that Geoid computer you reviewed looks very good. I don't use a bike computer, but I like the mapping functions on this. And that price!

Yes, it is genuinely good, but I hope I don’t need to say that. I keep trying to find bad stuff to say in my reviews so that they’re taken seriously, but I keep getting sent decent stuff. For 80ish quid, this is fantastic. It’s a Magene C606 really. I was asked not to mention that as Geoid are trying to remain independent, but they bought the body and filled it with slightly fewer features then banged it out for €60 less.

 

[Yako]

Not for me with my wall like hills, but I suppose simplicity is a big factor? For bike brands not having to re engineer frames to fit a mid drive, though actually as they need to incorporate a computer and internal battery maybe not a big factor.

Did you see the bonkers Megamo road and gravel bikes I previewed with the Avinox M2S?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I cannot express how much I do admire Bosch E-Bike. It is 2026, and the German brand just invents an e-bike HUB-DRIVE motor. Also, it is 2026, and the German brand invents the connection to Garmin computers.

My awe for Bosch genius has reached its summit!

I will never ever buy a Bosch E-Bike.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Did you see the bonkers Megamo road and gravel bikes I previewed with the Avinox M2S?

We were talking on here. I mean every motor cuts out at 25km so I'm not sure how effective such a powerful motor is on road or gravel.

Did they post a bike weight?

 

[stompandgo]

In your country, but not everywhere.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Yes, it is genuinely good, but I hope I don’t need to say that. I keep trying to find bad stuff to say in my reviews so that they’re taken seriously, but I keep getting sent decent stuff. For 80ish quid, this is fantastic. It’s a Magene C606 really. I was asked not to mention that as Geoid are trying to remain independent, but they bought the body and filled it with slightly fewer features then banged it out for €60 less.

Interesting. Would you favour over the Coospo?

In your country, but not everywhere.

They are Catalonian.

 

[mschwett]

Today Bosch unveiled a completely new motor.
Are you sitting down?
It’s a 45Nm HUB motor. Canyon have put it in their latest singlespeed commuter Roadlite ON - also released today. I was supposed to be getting my hands on one for a little spin next week after Eurobike, but have surgery scheduled so had to turn it down.

Bosch say the motor is specifically designed for commuter/city riding, but it seems to have 400W which is decent.
So, thoughts as to why? I had thought that hub motors were dead in the water - but Bosch obviously don’t think so. They’re often more reliable than mids, so what’s the life expectancy of a Bosch hub motor that will never see rough ground/pedal strikes - even mud? Forever?

that's pretty interesting !

i don't think hubs are dead, at all. there are lots of advantages, not least of which is you can use totally standard bottom bracket, cranks, and all other drivetrain parts, and no load on the chain from the mid-drive. having owned both a low power mid-drive road/gravel bike and a low power hub drive road bike with very very very similar control systems, power, battery, etc, the only real difference is that the hub drive is clearly inferior for very steep climbs. but, do most people do very steep paved climbs? i don't think so, especially not in america where it's pretty rare to find paved roads over 6-8% for any sustained length of time.

i just happen to live in san francisco where we have 20% roads that go straight up hills, where i want to be at 1:1 gearing or better, and the hub motor is at a big disadvantage.

that roadlite on has some really nice features. belt and singlespeed and rear hub makes for a fantastically simple bike. i'd almost suggest they should have put the hub in the front and an inexpensive IGH in the rear. unfortunately canyon must have some blind designers, because those kinks in the top tube are just hideous and a total nonstarter for me

 

[fooferdoggie]

that's pretty interesting !

i don't think hubs are dead, at all. there are lots of advantages, not least of which is you can use totally standard bottom bracket, cranks, and all other drivetrain parts, a

Well, until you get to the back, then you have subpar derailers and cassettes and a power cable to deal with.

 

[mschwett]

Well, until you get to the back, then you have subpar derailers and cassettes and a power cable to deal with.

huh? what's subpar about dura ace, ultegra, 105 derailleurs and cassettes? and there's no power cable on the latest generation of lightweight hub motors. there's a connector integrated into the dropout. no wires.

 

[LandoftheGiants]

I never get excited over a new offering, I wait till the Beta testers report back, a year later say. It's not like the manufacturers ever do much R&D anymore.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I never get excited over a new offering, I wait till the Beta testers report back, a year later say. It's not like the manufacturers ever do much R&D anymore.

I wait until the whole idea is abandoned. It is like Stellantis trying to compete with BYD.

 

[Chargeride]

If this is the actual motor it seems to have the standard plug, but not exactly sure how it connects to the motor, maybe just a shroud to protect the cable

 

[mschwett]

If this is the actual motor it seems to have the standard plug, but not exactly sure how it connects to the motor, maybe just a shroud to protect the cable

View attachment 211611

interesting, maybe mahle has some sort of patent on the integrated connection.